这部小说以家庭生活为描写对象，以家庭成员的感情纠葛为线索，描写了马奇一家的天伦之爱。马奇家的四姐妹中，无论是为了爱情甘于贫困的海格，还是通过自己奋斗成为作家的乔，以及坦然面对死亡的贝思和以扶弱为己任的艾米，虽然她们的理想和命运都不尽相同，但是她们都具有自强自立的共同特点。描写了她们对家庭的眷恋；对爱的忠诚以及对亲情的渴望。

名著阅读

"That boy put it into his head, I know he did! He's a capital fellow, and I wish we could get acquainted. He looks as if he'd like to know us but he's bashful, and Meg is so prim she won't let me speak to him when we pass," said Jo, as the plates went round, and the ice began to melt out of sight, with ohs and ahs of satisfaction.

“一定是那男孩出的主意，准没错！他是个一流的小伙子，但愿我们可以交朋友。他看来也想认识我们，只是有点怕羞，而梅格又一本正经，我们路过也不让我跟他说句话。”这时碟子传过来，雪糕已开始融化，乔一边说一边呵哈呵哈地吃得津津有味。

"You mean the people who live in the big house next door, don't you?" asked one of the girls. "My mother knows old Mr. Laurence, but says he's very proud and doesn't like to mix with his neighbors. He keeps his grandson shut up, when he isn't riding or walking with his tutor, and makes him study very hard. We invited him to our party, but he didn't come. Mother says he's very nice, though he never speaks to us girls."

“你们说的是住在隔壁那座大房子里的人吗？”一个姑娘问，”我妈妈认识劳伦斯先生，但说他非常高傲，不喜欢与邻里交往。他把自己的孩子关在家里，只让他跟着家庭教师骑马散步，逼他用功读书。我们曾经邀请他参加我们的晚会，但他没来。妈妈说他相当不错，虽然他从不跟我们女孩子说话。”

"Our cat ran away once, and he brought her back, and we talked over the fence, and were getting on capitally, all about cricket, and so on, when he saw Meg coming, and walked off. I mean to know him some day, for he needs fun, I'm sure he does," said Jo decidedly.

“一次我家的猫儿不见了，是他送回来的。我们隔着篱笆谈了几句，而且相当投机--谈的都是板球一类的东西--他看到梅格走过来，就走开了。我终有一天要认识他的，因为他需要乐趣，我肯定他很需要，”乔自信地说道。

"I like his manners, and he looks like a little gentleman, so I've no objection to your knowing him, if a proper opportunity comes. He brought the flowers himself, and I should have asked him in, if I had been sure what was going on upstairs. He looked so wistful as he went away, hearing the frolic and evidently having none of his own."

“他举止彬彬有礼，令人喜爱。如果时机适宜，我不反对你们交朋友。他今天亲自把鲜花送过来，我本应该请他进来的，但因为不知道你们在楼上干什么，就没让他进来。他走的时候似乎闷闷不乐，若有所思；他听到你们在玩闹，而显然他自己没什么玩的。”

"It's a mercy you didn't, Mother!" laughed Jo, looking at her boots. "But we'll have another play sometime that he can see. Perhaps he'll help act. Wouldn't that be jolly?"

“幸亏没叫他进来，妈妈！”乔望望自己的靴子笑道，”不过以后我们会做一出他可以看的戏。或许他还可以和我们一起演出呢。那岂不更有趣？”

"I never had such a fine bouquet before! How pretty it is!" And Meg examined her flowers with great interest.

“我从未收到过这样漂亮的花束！真是美极了！”梅格饶有兴致地审视着自己那束鲜花。

"They are lovely. But Beth's roses are sweeter to me," said Mrs. March, smelling the half-dead posy in her belt.

“花儿是漂亮！不过依我说贝思的玫瑰花更香，”马奇太太闻闻插在腰带上那几近凋零的花朵说道。

Beth nestled up to her, and whispered softly, "I wish I could send my bunch to Father. I'm afraid he isn't having such a merry Christmas as we are."

贝思依偎到她的身旁，轻身低语道：“我真希望能把我的那束花送给爸爸。我想他圣诞节恐怕过得没有我们这么快乐呢。”

词汇释义

1.capital['kæpitl] adj. 极好的，一流的

2.bashful adj. 1. 羞怯的2. 局促不安的；缺乏自信的

He because of bashful but low head.
他因羞愧而低下了头。

3.prim adj. 1. 循规蹈矩的2. 整洁的3. (人)一本正经；循规蹈矩

To assume a prim expression.
做出一本正经的样子

4.decidedly adv. 1. 确实无疑地;显然2. 坚决地;果断地

He made an order decidedly.
他果断地下了一条命令。

5.wistful adj. 伤感的；（对已不可能发生之事）徒然神往的

The boy looks with wistful eyes at the toy on display
那男孩看著展出的玩具,眼中流露出渴望的神情

6.frolic n. 调皮，欢乐的聚会，无忧无虑的快乐时光

The children are having a frolic before bedtime.
孩子们睡觉前正在嬉戏玩闹。

7.posy n. 小花束

Gathered a posy of violets.
采集一束紫罗兰

8.nestle['nesl] v. 依偎，（舒适地）安顿

She nestled her head on his shoulder.
她将头依偎在他的肩上.

难句解析
　　
1.I like his manners, and he looks like a little gentleman, so I've no objection to your knowing him, if a proper opportunity comes.

【难句解析】have objection to意思是“反对...”；

【句子翻译】他举止彬彬有礼，令人喜爱。如果时机适宜，我不反对你们交朋友。